As the Boston Bruins gear up for the upcoming season, they’ve been exploring potential Professional Tryout Offers (PTOs) for veteran forwards Blake Wheeler and Kailer Yamamoto. While they’ve bolstered their lineup by adding Elias Lindholm to fill the top-line center role, the Bruins still have a vacancy at the second-line right wing position. With training camp on the horizon, Providence Bruins forwards Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell are strong candidates to step up, but General Manager Don Sweeney might be considering more experienced options to kick off the 2024-25 season.
One veteran who could provide the stability the Bruins are looking for is James Van Riemsdyk. The 35-year-old winger, who spent the 2023-24 season with Boston, is currently a free agent. Primarily playing on the left side, Van Riemsdyk could offer the team valuable insurance, similar to how Danton Heinen contributed after signing a PTO last season. Despite a strong start last year, Van Riemsdyk’s performance waned as the season progressed, finishing with 11 goals and 27 assists over 71 regular-season games. He also added a goal and four assists in 11 postseason appearances.
With a career total of 311 goals and 318 assists in 1,011 regular-season games, Van Riemsdyk is a seasoned veteran who could be a reliable option if the Bruins’ prospects aren’t quite ready to take on a larger role. A PTO with Boston would make sense for Van Riemsdyk, given his familiarity with the team and the locker room presence he brings. While he may be 35, his experience and ability to contribute on the power play still make him a viable choice for any NHL roster.
Though Van Riemsdyk would ideally prefer to sign a one-year contract, the dwindling offseason time may lead him to consider staying in Boston—a team he knows well and one that offers him the comfort of familiarity. The Bruins, too, may find reassurance in bringing back a player who understands their system and what it takes to compete at the NHL level.
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